Improvement in clothes-lines



W. M. PRATT.

Clothes-Lines.

N() ]57,723 Y Patented Dec. 15, I874.

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J aUa *4 c: J f Eki Witnesses Inventor THE GRAPHIC CO. FHOYD 'LITHjSlWi-l PARK PLACE,N,Y

U E STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. PRATT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOTHES-LINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 157,723, dated December 15, 1874; application filed October 12, 1874.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM M. PRATT, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented an Improvement in Clothes-Lines, of which the followingis a specification:

The nature of this invention will be fully understood from the subjoined description and the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

In said drawing, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improvement as the same appears in use. Fig. 2 is a front view of the coupling, more particularly described below; and Fig. 3 is a rear View of the same. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of one form of rod used; and Fig. 5 an end view of Fig. 4, showing the rod in section.

Like letters indicate like parts in all the figures.

In Fig. 1, a is a wire, preferably of galvanized iron, as that will not rust by exposure, nor stain the clothes should they come in contact therewith, stretched between any two appropriate points, to which the wooden rods 1) b b are hung by means of the wire loops or hooks d at. These rods are designed to hold the clothes, and should be of sufficient length to hold the larger pieces of washing. They are I coupled together by the couplings o c, in which are inserted the wire loops at d. The construction of these couplings is shown more fully in Figs. 2 and 3. Each rod is permanently pivoted, at one end, in a coupling, as shown at f fin Fig. 2, and at the other end is provided Withtwo ears or round lugs, 11 i, designed to enter the grooves i c" in the side of the coupling pivoted to the next rod. The couplings are cut away on the front side, as shown in Fig. 2, and in the rear, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to permit both rods entering them to swing around in front to a position at right angles with the line of the length of the couplings.

When it is desired to couple two rods, the end of one upon which the ears are located is inserted in the coupling attached to the other rod at right angles to the length of the coupling, the ears entering the grooves prepared for them. When the ears have reached the ends of the grooves at the center of the coupling, the rod is swung around until in a line with the length of the coupling, its inner end reaching to the point indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, and shown in the opening in Fig. 3. From this position it can only be released by returning it to a right angle with the coupling, as it is confined on all sides by the coupling, and cannot slip out because the ears are held in thegrooves.

The wire loop inserted in the coupling is of such aform as to render a compound movement necessary in order to slip it over the stretched Wire. A. simpler form may be employed, but it is essential that some form he used which will render it difficult if not impossible for the wind to detach them from the suspending-wire. For this reason I recommend the form mentioned, and which is sufficiently indicated in the drawmg.

These rods may be suspended one at atime, and, as soon as coupled and filled with clothes, shoved along on the suspending-wire; and it will thus be seen that the entire wire may be filled without the necessity of any change of position upon the part of the laundress during the operation of hanging the clothes. The wire may be also emptied with the same case. By reason of this fact it will be further noticed that the suspension maybe ata greater height than is customary, and, indeed, at an angle, as it is only necessary that the wire should be reached at one end.

In order to dispense with the necessity of clothes-pins I employ the form of rod shown in Figs.2,4, and 5; This rod is made with a slight hollow upon its top, into which is fitted the slat g. The clothes h are thrown over the rod; the slat is then placed over them and pressed into the cavity or hollow just mentioned, and is secured at its ends by the couplings, as shown in Fig. 2. The clothes are then thrown over rod and slat, as shown in Fig. 4, and in that position they are as secure as when held by the ordinary pins.

For the purpose of cleaning the suspending-wire, that the clothes may not be soiled by contact therewith, I attach to one of the loops a sponge, s, of Fig. 1. By this means all accumulated dirt will be easily and effectually removed as the sponge traverses the wire.

One great advantage of myimprovement is, that by the use of the suspending-wire, which is easily kept taut in all kinds of weather, I an enabled to dispense with the poles or other supports ordinarily used to overcome the sagging of the line.

I claim as my invention 1. Theimproved clothes-line, consisting of a series of coupled rods suspended from a stretched wire, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the suspending-wire a and the coupled rods 1), provided with the sponge s, as described.

3. The coupling consisting of a block fitted with a suspending-loop, and pivoted to one end of a rod, and provided with the grooves i i, to receive the other end of a rod fitted with lugs i i, substantially as specified.

WILLIAM M. PRATT.

Witnesses:

Enw. S. EVARTS, A. KLEIMINGER. 

